R.I.P. Richard Kiel

[diankra]

I was only a kid at the time, but I recall that (in the Uk at least) The Spy Who Loved Me was when Bond changed from being a dying franchise that kept on being trotted (like the early 1970s Hammer Draculas) to something that could carry on in its own right, with or without Connery.
And Richard Kiel must have helped with that - he was a key figure in that film, and the only villain they ever actually brought back for the next one (ISTR that there was occasionally talk of getting Gert Frobe to play Goldfinger's brother and that sort of thing, but it never got close to happening).
Someone once said something like "There are good actors who can play anything superbly. And there are good actors who know their limits and do that equally well." That comes to mind here.

 

[Starkers]

I was only a kid at the time, but I recall that (in the Uk at least) The Spy Who Loved Me was when Bond changed from being a dying franchise that kept on being trotted (like the early 1970s Hammer Draculas) to something that could carry on in its own right, with or without Connery.
And Richard Kiel must have helped with that - he was a key figure in that film, and the only villain they ever actually brought back for the next one (ISTR that there was occasionally talk of getting Gert Frobe to play Goldfinger's brother and that sort of thing, but it never got close to happening).
Someone once said something like "There are good actors who can play anything superbly. And there are good actors who know their limits and do that equally well." That comes to mind here.

I guess there was a bit of a prescedent for brining Jaws back given they'd bought JW Pepper back (not a henchman I know but he's hardly Felix, Mathis, Q, M or Moneypenny either).

I could be wrong on this but, much like Vader in Jedi, does Jaws actually kill anyone (except badguys) in Moonraker?

I always hoped they'd bring Xenia back.

 

[The Old Mixer]

They brought back Blofeld a few times, but always played by a different actor...and none even vaguely resembling the others.

No, Jaws successfully kills nobody onscreen in Moonraker. I only noticed this the last time I watched it...it jumped out at me when he failed to kill Bond's female contact in Rio. By the tried and true Bond formula as it stood at that time, that girl should have been killed...the female contact of limited use in the middle of the story always buys it. That she managed to survive telegraphed what they were doing with Jaws in that film.

 

[Harvey]

They brought back Blofeld a few times, but always played by a different actor...and none even vaguely resembling the others.

He was voiced by the same actor in "From Russia with Love" and "Thunderball," but as soon as was actually seen unobscured, yep.

Sylvia Trench (played by Eunice Gayson) appeared in both "Dr. No" and "From Russia with Love."

Marc Lawrence played gangsters in "Diamonds are Forever" and "The Man with the Golden Gun," although it's unclear if they're supposed to be the same character or not.

 

[Drone]

I'm somewhat surprised at his age. For some reason, I remember thinking that he was older when he portrayed Voltaire in WWW, but he was only in his mid 20's.

 

[JediKnightButler]

^Spy Who Loved Me was a big critical and financial success, and along with For Your Eyes Only is often considered one of the better Moore offerings.


Moonraker, on the other hand...

The Spy Who Loved Me is one of my all-time favorite Bond movies.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

I think there was talk of bringing Jaws back for FYEO, but they felt that the more serious tone wouldn't have worked with him. (Although the film does sort of bring back Blofeld for a mostly non-serious opening scene).

 

[Cyke101]

He had a minor role, but I loved him in Happy Gilmore.

"That's two thus far Shooter".

RIP

Heh, my favorite line of his from that movie:

"I beg to differ! Happy Gilmore accomplished that feat no more than an hour ago!"

I love his delivery. His tone has the right amount of eloquence, wit, and matter-of-factness, along with the threat of impending violence

 

[Davros]

RIP

 

[Silvercrest]

He was fun alongside Jackie Chan in Cannonball Run II. Not the best movie....

"Okay, make us invisible!"

Kiel was also the blink-and-you'll-miss-him original Incredible Hulk...they replaced him with Ferrigno when they realized that he didn't have the sort of build they were looking for

How long did it take them to notice?????

IAlso reminded me of a MST3K movie where he played a caveman...lol.

Not to mention the original Land of the Lost, where he also played a caveman. I saw that recently and made the mistake of thinking it was Ted Cassidy. (Ted was probably up in the clouds, jumping up and down and howling, "No, no, no! Not again!!")

I'm sorry to say that Mr. Kiel was probably more suited for LotL S3 than Mr. Cassidy.

Rest in peace anyway, Richard.